Y-DNA Research Studies of Rabbinical Lineages and Their Importance to Jewish Genealogy
Abstract For centuries, Jews have sought their yichus by connecting themselves to rabbinical families, either through marriage or by a paper trail. Thanks to recent advances in genetic genealogy and DNA technology, this is now possible to do for many more individuals...
Connecting to the Great Rabbinic Families through Y-DNA: The Savran-Bendery Chassidic Dynasty
Abstract According to Arthur Kurzweil, one of the pioneers of Jewish genealogy: For the Jewish people ... our royal families have been those of the illustrious rabbis.0F1 Through the practice of shidduch (arranged marriage), these illustrious rabbis and their...
When Y-DNA and Yichus Tell Different Stories
Introduction Y-DNA analysis has proven to be a valuable tool in the genealogical research of Jewish paternal lineages. In our research, we have used it to validate the paper trail of pedigreed rabbinical descendants and identify the Y-DNA genetic signature of many...
The Y-DNA Genetic Signature and Ethnic Origin of the Twersky Chassidic Dynasty
Introduction Throughout the centuries, the Jewish people have always prided themselves on their yichus (lineage, distinguished birth, or pedigree). Yichus was especially important for rabbinical families, and many of them have created genealogy charts or family trees...
The Y-DNA Genetic Signature and Ethnic Origin of Rabbi Raphael of Bershad
Introduction During the period when Chassidic Judaism1 was still in its infancy, Rabbi2 Raphael of Bershad3 (c. 1751–1827)4 was a charismatic figure who was revered by his followers in the region that is now southwestern and central Ukraine. Rabbi Raphael was a...
Identifying the Genetic Fingerprint of a Tzaddik that Touched the World: The Shpoler Zeida
Introduction Yehuda Leib of Shpola (1725 – 1811), better known as the Shpoler Zeida (Yiddish for “Grandfather of Shpola”) or Saba Kadisha (Hebrew for “Holy Grandfather’), was a beloved Chassidic folk rebbe, great kabbalist, and a revered tzaddik (saintly or holy man)...
Connecting to the Great Rabbinic Families Through Y-DNA: A Case Study of the Polonsky Rabbinical Lineage
For a number of reasons, including high rates of intermarriage with other rabbinic families, adoption of fixed surnames well before governmental authorities required the majority of European Jewry to do so, and frequently welldocumented lineages, rabbinic lineages...
The Y-DNA Genetic Signature and Ethnic Origin of the Katzenellenbogen Rabbinical Lineage
Introduction According to Arthur Kurzweil: “For the Jewish people, our royal families have been those of the illustrious rabbis.” If that is true, then the Katzenellenbogen rabbinical lineage is foremost among these noble families. For centuries, Jewish men and women...
The Y-DNA Fingerprint of the Shpoler Zeida, a Tzaddik Who Touched the World
Yehuda Leib of Shpola (c.1725 – 1811) – better known as the Shpoler Zeide (Yiddish for “Grandfather of Shpola”) or Saba Kadisha (Hebrew for “Holy Grandfather’) – was a beloved Chassidic folk rebbe, great kabbalist, and a revered tzaddik (saintly or holy man) about...
History, Adoption, and Regulation of Jewish Surnames in the Russian Empire
Abstract Analysis of the formation of surnames by the Jewish population of the 19th century Russian Empire. Description of the cultural and legal context of Ashkenazi Jewish surnames in Russia with examples taken from census records. Provides insight to genealogists...
The Jewish Surname Process in the Russian Empire and its Effect on Jewish Genealogy
Did you ever wonder why your autosomal DNA and Y-DNA genetic match lists contain so many unfamiliar surnames? Did you ever question where the myriad number of bewildering and unexpected surnames, even among your close genetic matches, comes from? If you are Jewish,...